Accessory mounting system for a vehicle

ABSTRACT

An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of a vehicle comprises a housing that is adapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle. The housing houses at least two accessories, at least one of which is selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor. Another of the at least two accessories is selected from the group consisting of: a) a vehicle altitude sensor, b) a vehicle incline sensor, c) a headlamp sensor, d) a daylight sensor, e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, f) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, g) an antenna, h) a camera, i) a microphone, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor. The at least one of the two accessories housed by the housing views through the windshield of the vehicle when the housing is mounted to the receiving structure on the windshield.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/913,748,filed Aug. 6, 2004, entitled VEHICLE INTERIOR MIRROR SYSTEM INCLUDING ARAIN SENSOR, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 10/618,334, filed Jul.11, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,356, which is a continuation of Ser.No. 09/997,579, filed Nov. 29, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,565, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/433,467, filedNov. 4, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,613, which is acontinuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/003,966, filed Jan. 7, 1998, byNiall R. Lynam, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,148, the disclosures of whichare hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a vehicle interior mirror assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a vehicle interior rearviewmirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, the housing adapted for containing a rain sensor andbiasing means in use biasing the rain sensor into contact with theinterior surface of the windshield, the housing containing at least onefurther electrical component.

The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview mirrorassembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, the interior of the housing comprising at least onecompartment, the compartment having an opening at the front end of thehousing for facing in use towards the windshield and, the compartmentadapted for containing a rain sensor and for biasing the rain sensorforwardly through the first opening into contact with the interiorsurface of the windshield, and the housing also containing at least onefurther electrical component.

The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview mirrorassembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, the interior of the housing comprising a compartment,the compartment having a first opening at the front end of the housingfor facing in use towards the windshield and the compartment having asecond opening on at least one side of the housing, the compartmentcontaining a rain sensor and means for biasing the rain sensor forwardlythrough the first opening into contact with the interior surface of thewindshield, and the compartment containing at least one furtherelectrical component accessible through the second opening According tothe present invention there is provided a vehicle interior rearviewmirror assembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for mounting a rearview mirror unit to thehousing, and an internal wall subdividing the interior of the housinginto first and second compartments, the first compartment having a firstopening at the front end of the housing for facing in use towards thewindshield and the second compartment having a second opening on atleast one side of the housing, the first compartment containing a rainsensor and means for biasing the rain sensor forwardly through the firstopening into contact with the interior surface of the windshield, andthe second compartment containing at least one further electricalcomponent accessible through the second opening.

The invention further provides a vehicle interior rearview mirrorassembly comprising a housing having a front end for releasableattachment to the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, a rear endhaving connection means for releasably mounting a rearview mirror unitto the housing, a first opening at the front end of the housing forfacing in use towards the windshield, and a second opening on at leastone side of the housing for facing in use towards the top edge of thewindshield, the housing containing a rain sensor, means for biasing therain sensor forwardly through the first opening into contact with theinterior surface of the windshield, and at least one further electricalcomponent accessible through the second opening. The assembly furtherpreferably including a removable cover which mates with the housingaround the second opening and in use preferably extends along thewindshield towards the vehicle header, and electrical leads for the rainsensor and the further electrical component which in use are routedunder the cover to the header.

The invention provides the significant advantage that a vehiclemanufacturer is provided with the possibility of optionally including avariety of components with the rear view mirror assembly. Thispossibility is made available for example during the assembly lineprocess where the desired components to meet a particular specificationcan be included in the rear view mirror assembly. Furthermore, theremovable cover readily provides for the functional advantage of readilyincorporating a selected component whilst at the same time providing afunctionally attractive cover. The automaker is therefore provided withthe considerable advantage of the possibility of providing a pluralityof diverse options quickly and speedily during the assembly lineprocess.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a vehicle interior mirrorassembly according to the invention attached to the interior surface ofa windshield;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the mirror assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective top view of the mirror assembly;

FIG. 4 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking into theopening 18;

FIG. 5 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking into theopening 20;

FIG. 6 is a view of the mirror assembly of FIG. 3 looking fromunderneath;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wiring cover forming part of themirror assembly;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of another embodiment of vehicle interiormirror assembly according to the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of yet a further embodiment of a vehicle intorear mirror assembly according to the invention.

In certain of the figures some components are omitted or shown in dashedoutline to reveal the underlying structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, a vehicle interior rearview mirror assemblycomprises a die cast metal housing 10 (or optionally may be formed froma plastic moulding such as engineering polymeric resin such as a fillednylon or the like) having a front end 12 and a rear end 14, the frontend 12 being releasably attached to the interior surface of the vehiclewindshield 22 in a manner to be described. The interior of the housing10 is subdivided by an internal wall 16 into first and secondcompartments 18, 20 respectively, the first compartment 18 having anopening 18 a at the front end of the housing 10 which in use, and asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, faces towards the windshield 22 and the secondcompartment having an opening 20 a on the side of the housing which inuse faces towards the vehicle header 24 at the top edge of thewindshield. The front end 12 of the housing 10 is releasably attached tothe windshield 22 using an annular mounting button, not shown, in themanner described in EP 0 928 723 and U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/003,966, entitled “Rain Sensor Mount for Use in a Vehicle” to Niall RLynam, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,148, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

The compartment 18 contains a rain sensor 26, preferably a compact rainsensor module available from ITT Automotive Europe GmbH of Frankfurt,Germany. The compartment 18 preferably also contains an arcuate steelspring finger 28 which is secured to the base of the compartment 18behind the rain sensor 26 and preferably serves to bias the rain sensor26 through the aperture in the mounting button and the opening 18 a intooptical contact with the windshield 22. Most preferably, rain sensor 26is a module which has a cross section diameter of at least 25millimeters (mm), more preferably at least 30 mm, but with a maximumdiameter ≦50 mm, more preferably ≦40 mm, and most preferably ≦35 mm.

The compartment 20 contains at least one further electrical componentwhich is accessible through the opening 20 a. In the present embodimentthe component is a printed circuit board 30 bearing a compass sensorsuch as a flux gate, magnetoinductive, magnetoresistive ormagnetocapacitive sensor.

At its rear end 14 the housing 10 has an integral ball 32 for releasablyand adjustably mounting a rearview mirror unit 34 to the housing 10generally in conventional manner. The mirror unit 34 comprises a mirrorhousing 36 containing a mirror 38 which is preferably an electro-opticmirror comprising front and rear plates separated by a space whichcontains an electro-optic medium such as an electrochromic mediumallowing variation in the amount of light transmitted through the mediumby varying the strength of an electric field applied across the medium.Alternatively a prismatic mirror element can be used. Such mirrors arewell known in the art. The ball 32 constitutes one part of a ball andsocket joint, the socket 36 being carried by the mirror housing 36. Themirror housing is adjustable about the ball and socket joint.Advantageously, the housing 10 is fixedly attached to the windshieldwhen mounted thereto. Thus, adjustment of the mirror housing to set thefield of rearward view of the mirror reflective element therein does noteffect the position/orientation of rain sensor and any other accessoryhoused in fixedly-attached housing 10. This is particularly advantageouswhen the electrical accessory in housing 10 comprises a compass sensorsuch as a magneto-resistive sensor, a magneto-inductive sensor, amagneto-capacitive sensor or a flux-gate sensor. By having the housing10 be fixedly attached, and by having it accommodate at least twoelectrical accessories (at least one of which preferably comprises arain sensor that is mounted in the housing 10 so as to view through andpreferably contact the windshield inner surface, and with the rainsensor attached to the windshield generally coaxial with the mirror unitthat is adjustable about housing 10), a compact overall interior mirrorsystem is provided comprising a housing accommodating a plurality ofelectrical accessories, the housing fixedly and detachably mounted to areceiving structure on the inner surface (typically a glass surface) ofthe vehicle windshield and with a mirror unit comprising a mirrorsupport arm and a mirror housing including a reflector element, themirror support arm/mirror housing being adjustable about the fixedhousing (and optionally detachable therefrom). In this manner, thehousing 10 presents a minimal footprint when viewed from outside thevehicle through the vehicle windshield.

The assembly further includes a removable cover 40 which mates with thehousing 10 around the opening 20 a and extends along the windshield tothe vehicle header 24. The cover 40, which is longitudinally symmetric,is moulded from a resilient, polymeric or plastics material andcomprises a pair of opposite, substantially coplanar, longitudinal sideedges 42, FIG. 7, which diverge from a relatively narrow rear end 44 ofthe cover 40 to a relative wide flared front end 46. The flared frontend 46 of the cover is open, and there is also a small opening 48 at thenarrow rear end 44. The cover 40 has an internal strengthening wall 50whose free edge 52 is recessed below the level of the edges 42. At itsflared front end the cover 40 has a pair of forward projections 54, andthe inside surface of the cover has a pair of raised ridges 56 (only oneis seen in FIG. 7) each extending along a respective side of the coveradjacent to the front end 46.

The exterior surface of the housing 10 has a corresponding pair ofelongated grooves or depressions 58 along each side of the opening 20 a,the exterior width of the housing across the opening 20 a beingsubstantially the same as the interior width of the cover 40 across thegrooves 58.

The cover 40 is fitted to the housing 10 by first inserting theprojections 54 into a recess 60, FIGS. 2 and 5, above the opening 20 aand then rotating the cover towards the windshield until the ribs 56snap-engage the grooves 58 (the cover 40 is sufficiently resilient topermit this) and the edges 42 of the cover come to lie flat against theinterior surface of the windshield 22, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thecover 40 may be removed by pulling the narrow end 44 away from thewindshield until the ribs 56 disengage the grooves 58 and thenwithdrawing the projection 54 from the recess 60.

The cover 40 serves a dual purpose. First, it protects the compartment20 a and hence the component 30 against the ingress of dust and othercontaminants, yet it is easily removed to allow the component 30 to beserviced or replaced, if necessary after removing the mirror unit 34.Secondly, it provides a conduit for electrical leads 62, 64 and 66respectively from the rain sensor 26, component 30 and (if fitted) theelectro-optic or other electrically operated mirror 38.

As seen in FIG. 1, these leads are routed under the cover 40 and throughthe opening 48 at the rear end 44 of the cover into the vehicle header24 where they are connected into the vehicle electrical system.

As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the ball joint 32 includes a passageway or aconduit through which can pass the electrical leads connecting to acomponent such as a eletrochromic mirror element 38 or compass displayin the mirror head 34. In particular, there is shown a lead 68 connectedto a compass display 70 which displays through the mirror element.Alternatively, the display 70 can be located at other positions in theinterior rear view mirror assembly, such as in a chin portion or in aneyebrow portion.

Optionally, the removable cover includes at least one opening 100 orport through which a pointed object such as the tip of a ball point penor a needle or the like can be inserted to activate switches on a PCBlocated in one of the compartments. Thus, for example, the zone and/orthe calibration of a compass PCB can be adjusted without the necessityto remove the removable cover.

Also, a camera may be located on the assembly for example on thehousing, or mirror unit or cover and arranged to look either forwardlyor rearwardly in terms of the direction of motion of the vehicle, or inanother desired direction. In FIGS. 8 and 9 there is shown schematicviews of other embodiments of the invention. Thus, in FIG. 8 there isshown the housing 10 containing a rain sensor 26 and another electricalcomponent for example a printed circuit board of a compass sensor 30,with the housing attached to the vehicle windshield 22. The mirror unit34 is adjustably attached to the housing 10 by a double ball adjustablemirror support arm 101.

In FIG. 9, the mirror support arm 101 is attached to a mirror assemblymount 102. The housing 10 also comprises a mirror assembly mount button103 which may be fixed to the housing 10 or integrally formed therewith.The mount 102 is detachably attached to the mirror assembly mount button103.

Although the component 30 has been described as a compass sensor PCB, itcan be any of a number of sensors or circuits which can be made smallenough to fit in the compartment 20. Preferably, component 30 isprovided as a unitary module that is received within compartment 20.Most preferably, component 30 is electrically connected with theelectric/electronic wiring provided to the rear view mirror assembly.Thus, an electronic accessory can be provided as a module, can beinserted and received in the rear view mirror assembly, and can makeelectrical connection (such as by a plug and socket to the rear viewmirror assembly). This facilitates and enables the manufacture andsupply of the rear view mirror assembly, by a mirror assemblymanufacturer, to a vehicle assembly line, and the separate manufactureand supply of the electrical/electronic module to that vehicle assemblyline, with the automaker conveniently inserting the electric/electronicmodule into the compartment of the rear view mirror assembly when therear view mirror assembly is being mounted on a vehicle passing down avehicle assembly line.

For example, the compartment 20 may contain a sensor or sensors forvehicle altitude and/or incline, seat occupancy or air bag activationenable/disable, or (if a viewing aperture is made in the housing 10)photosensors for headlamp intensity/daylight intensity measurement.Alternatively, the compartment 20 may contain a transmitter and/orreceiver, along with any associated sensors, for geographic positioningsatellite (GPS) systems, pagers, cellular phone systems, ONSTAR™wireless communication, systems, vehicle speed governors, securitysystems, tire monitoring systems, remote fueling systems where vehiclefueling and/or payment/charging for fuel is remotely achieved, remotekeyless entry systems, garage and/or security door opener systems,INTERNET interfaces, vehicle tracking systems, remote car door unlocksystems, e-mail systems, toll booth interactions systems, highwayinformation systems, traffic warning systems, home access systems,garage door openers and the like. Of course, any of the above may bemounted under the cover 40, in addition to the component 30 in thecompartment 20.

Where the component 30 is a transmitter or receiver, or where a furthercomponent mounted under the cover 40 is a transmitter or receiver, thecover 40 may include an associated antenna. The antenna may mounted as aseparate item under the cover 40, or the cover itself may serve as theantenna, being either coated with a layer of conductive material ormoulded from a conductive plastics material.

Also, a photosensor may be included in a compartment of the housing,preferably a skyward facing photosensor that views skyward through thevehicle windshield for the purpose of providing automatic headlampactivation/deactivation at dusk/dawn. Also, the housing may include asingle microphone or a plurality of microphones for detecting vocalinputs from vehicle occupants for the purpose of cellular phone wirelesscommunication.

Most preferably such microphones provide input to an audio system thattransmits and communicates wirelessly with a remote transceiver,preferably in voice recognition mode. Such systems are described incommonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/382,720, filedAug. 25, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,003, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

In this regard it may be desirable to use audio processing techniquessuch as digital sound processing to ensure that vocal inputs to thevehicular audio system are clearly distinguished from cabin ambientnoise such as from wind noise, HVAC, and the like.

Preferably the housing includes an analog to digital converter and or adigital analog converter for the purpose of converting the analog outputof the microphone to a digital signal for input to a digital soundprocessor and for conversion of the digital output of a digital soundprocessor to an analog signal for wireless transmission to a remotetransceiver.

The housing may include a variety of information displays such as a PSIR(Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint) display, an SIR (Side-AirbagInflatable Restraint), compass/temperature display, a tire pressurestatus display or other desirable displays, such as those described incommonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/244,726, filedFeb. 5, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,613, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

For example, the interior rearview mirror assembly may include a displayof the speed limit applicable to the location where the vehicle istravelling. Conventionally, speed limits are posted as a fixed limit(for example, 45 MPH) that is read by the vehicle driver upon passing asign. As an improvement to this, an information display (preferably analphanumerical display and more preferably, a reconfigurable display)can be provided within the vehicle cabin, readable by the driver, thatdisplays the speed limit at whatever location on the road/highway thevehicle actually is at any moment. For example, existing speed limitsigns could be enhanced to include a transmitter that broadcasts a localspeed limit signal, such signal being received by an in-vehicle receiverand displayed to the driver. The speed limit signal can be transmittedby a variety of wireless transmission methods, such as radiotransmission, and such systems can benefit from wireless transmissionprotocols and standards, such as the BLUETOOTH low-cost, low-power radiobased cable replacement or wireless link based on short-rangeradio-based technology. Preferably, the in-vehicle receiver is locatedat and/or the display of local speed limit is displayed at the interiormirror assembly (for example, a speed limit display can be located in achin or eyebrow portion of the mirror case, such as in the mirrorreflector itself, such as in the cover 40, or such as in a pod attachedto the interior mirror assembly). More preferably, the actual speed ofthe vehicle can be displayed simultaneously with and beside the localspeed limit in-vehicle display and/or the difference or excess theretocan be displayed. Optionally, the wireless-based speed limittransmission system can actually control the speed at which a subjectvehicle travels in a certain location (such as by controlling an enginegovernor or the like). Thus, a school zone speed limit can be enforcedby transmission of a speed-limiting signal into the vehicle. Likewise,different speed limits for the same stretch of highway can be set fordifferent classes of vehicles. The system may also require driveridentification and then set individual speed limits for individualdrivers reflecting their skill level, age, driving record and the like.Moreover, a global positioning system (GPS) can be used to locate aspecific vehicle, calculate its velocity on the highway, verify what theallowed speed limit is at that specific moment on that specific stretchof highway, transmit that specific speed limit to the vehicle fordisplay (preferably at the interior rearview mirror that the driverconstantly looks at as part of the driving task) and optionally alertthe driver or retard the driver's ability to exceed the speed limit asdeemed appropriate. A short-range, local communication system such asenvisaged in the BLUETOOTH protocol finds broad utility in vehicularapplications, and particularly where information is to be displayed atthe interior mirror assembly, or where a microphone or user-interface(such as buttons to connect/interact with a remote wireless receiver) isto be located at the interior (or exterior) rearview mirror assembly.For example, a train approaching a railway crossing may transmit awireless signal such as a radio signal (using the BLUETOOTH protocol oranother protocol) and that signal may be received by and/or displayed atthe interior rearview mirror assembly (or the exterior sideview mirrorassembly). Also, the interior rearview mirror and/or the exterior sideview mirrors can function as transceivers/display locations/interfacelocations for intelligent vehicle highway systems, using protocols suchas the BLUETOOTH protocol. Protocols such as BLUETOOTH, as known in thetelecommunications art, can facilitate voice/data, voice over data,digital and analogue communication and vehicle/external wirelessconnectivity, preferably using the interior and/or exterior mirrorassemblies as transceiver/display/user-interaction sites. Electronicaccessories to achieve the above can be accommodated in housing 10,and/or elsewhere in the interior mirror assembly (such as in the mirrorhousing). Examples of such electronic accessories include in-vehiclecomputers, personal organizers/palm computers such as the Palm Pilot™personal display accessory (PDA), cellular phones and pagers, remotetransaction interfaces/systems such as described in commonly assigned,U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/057,428, filed Apr. 8, 1998, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,158,655, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporatedby reference herein, automatic toll booth payment systems, GPS systems,e-mail receivers/displays, a videophone, vehicle security systems,digital radio station transmission to the vehicle by wirelesscommunication as an alternate to having an in-vehicle dedicatedconventional radio receiver, traffic/weather broadcast to the vehicle,preferably digitally, and audio play and/or video display thereof in thevehicle, most preferably at the interior rearview mirror, highway hazardwarning systems and the like.

The information display at the interior rearview mirror assembly (suchas at the mirror housing or viewable in the mirror reflector) may beformed using electronic ink technology and can be reconfigurable.Examples of electronic ink technology include small plastic capsules ormicrocapsules, typically 1/10 of a millimeter across or thereabouts,that are filled with a dark ink and that have in that ink whiteparticles which carry a charge such as a positive charge. Electrodesplace an electric field across the capsules and the electric field canattract or repel the charged particles in the capsules. If the whiteparticle is attracted to the top of a capsule so that it is closest to aviewer, the display element/pixel appears white to the viewer. If thewhite particle is attracted to the bottom of the capsule (away from theviewer), the display element/pixel appears dark as the viewer now seesthe dark ink in the capsule. Such displays are available from E Ink ofCambridge, Mass. Such electronic ink displays have the advantage offorming text or graphics that, once formed, do not disappear when thedisplay powering voltage is disconnected (i.e. they have a long displaymemory). Alternately, GYRICON™ electronic ink technology developed byXEROX Corporation can be used. Here, microbeads are used that are black(or another dark color) on one side and white (or another light color)on the other side. The beads are dipolar in that one hemisphere carriesa stronger (and hence different) charge than the opposing otherhemisphere. The beads are small (about 1/10^(th) of a millimeterdiameter) and turn or flip when placed in an electric field, with therespective poles of the dipolar beads being attracted to thecorresponding polarity of the applied electric field. Thus, a whitepixel or a black pixel can be electrically written. Once the bead hasturned or flipped, it remains turned or flipped unless an electricpotential of the opposite polarity is applied. Thus, the display hasmemory.

Other types of information displays can be used at the interior mirrorlocation. For example, a field-emission display such as thefield-emission display available from Candescent Technologies of SanJose, Calif. can be used. Field-emission displays include a plurality ofcharge emitting sources or guns that bombard a phosphor screen. Forexample, a myriad of small or microscopic cones (<1 micron tall, forexample and made of a metal such as molybdenum) are placed about amillimeter from phosphors on a screen. The cones emit electrons fromtheir tips or apexes to bombard the phosphors under an applied electricfield. This technology is adaptable to provide thin display screens(such as less than 10 mm or so). Alternately, field-emission displayscan be made using carbon nanotubes which are cylindrical versions ofbuckminsterfullerene, and available from Motorola. Such field-emissiondisplays are particularly useful for video displays as they have highbrightness and good contrast ratio, even under high ambient lightingconditions such as in a vehicle cabin by day. Such displays can belocated at the interior rearview mirror, preferably, or optionallyelsewhere in the vehicle cabin such as in the dash, in the windshieldheader at the top interior edge of the windshield, in a seat back, orthe like.

A further advantage of providing a housing 10 which accommodatesmultiple electrical accessories, preferably in individual compartments,is that incorporation of optional accessories into a specific vehicle isfacilitated. It also facilitates supply of the housing 10 and associatedmirror unit by a mirror manufacturer and supply of at least one of theelectrical accessories by a second, different accessory manufacturer,and with the automaker placing the at least one electrical accessoryinto the housing 10 at the vehicle assembly plant, preferably at thevehicle assembly line. Thus, for example, an interior mirror assemblycan be manufactured by a mirror supplier that includes housing 10,compartments 18 and 20 (or, optionally, more compartments), printedcircuit board 30 (such as a compass sensor printed circuit board) incompartment 20 but with compartment 18 empty, removable cover 40, amirror support arm articulating about housing 20, a mirror housing orcase supported on said support arm, a reflector element in said mirrorhousing (preferably an electrochromic mirror element which includes aninformation display such as of compass direction and/or temperaturedisplaying through said mirror element as is known in the mirror arts).A rain sensor module can be made by a separate manufacturer. The rainsensor module and the interior mirror assembly can be shipped to avehicle assembly plant (or local to it). Then, when a particular vehiclerequires a rains sensor module, the vehicle manufacturer can place therain sensor module into compartment 18, connect the rain sensor moduleto the wire harness provided to mirror assembly (preferably, the rainsensor module docks into compartment 18 in a manner that connects itelectrically to the vehicle or alternatively, the rain sensor moduleincludes a plug or socket that connects to a corresponding socket orplug already provided in housing 10 (or elsewhere on the interior mirrorassembly). This allows “plug & play” accommodation of multipleaccessories into the interior rearview mirror assembly. Also, theinterior rearview mirror assembly may be shipped to the assembly plantwith both compartments 18 and 20 empty, thus allowing, for example, theautomaker to solely place a rain sensor module into compartment 18 butadd no further accessory into compartment 20.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein whichmay be modified or varied without departing from the scope of theinvention.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. An accessory mounting system suitable for mountinga plurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interiorcabin of a vehicle, said system comprising: a housing; said housingadapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interiorsurface of the windshield of the vehicle; at least two accessorieshoused in said housing; one of said at least two accessories selectedfrom the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and aforwardly-viewing rain sensor; another of said at least two accessoriesselected from the group consisting of: a) a vehicle altitude sensor, b)a vehicle incline sensor, c) a headlamp sensor, d) a daylight sensor, e)a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, f) a geographicpositioning satellite (GPS) receiver, g) an antenna, h) a camera, i) amicrophone, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor;and said at least one of said two accessories viewing through thewindshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receivingstructure.
 14. The accessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein said atleast one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of thevehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structurecomprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor.
 15. The accessory mountingsystem of claim 14 wherein the another of said at least two accessoriescomprises a compass sensor.
 16. The accessory mounting system of claim13 wherein said housing includes a passageway for electrical wiring. 17.The accessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein said housing comprisesa pivot element.
 18. The accessory mounting system of claim 17 whereinsaid pivot element. includes a conduit therethrough for electricalwiring.
 19. The accessory mounting system of claim 17 wherein said pivotelement connects to an interior mirror.
 20. The accessory mountingsystem of claim 13 wherein said housing includes biasing that urges oneof said at least two accessories into contact with the interior surfaceof the windshield.
 21. The accessory mounting system of claim 20 whereinsaid housing includes a first opening, said first opening facing towardthe windshield when said housing is attached to the windshield, whereinsaid at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshieldof the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structurecomprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor, said biasing urging said rainsensor forwardly through said first opening into contact with theinterior surface of the windshield.
 22. The accessory mounting system ofclaim 13 wherein said housing comprises a cavity, said cavity includinga opening and where at least one of said at least two accessoriesincluded in said housing is accessible through said opening.
 23. Theaccessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein said housing includes acavity and wherein an internal wall separates said cavity into first andsecond compartments, said one of said at least two accessories being inthe first of said compartments and the another of said at least twoaccessories being in the second of said compartments.
 24. The accessorymounting system of claim 23 further including a removable cover whichmates with said housing.
 25. The accessory mounting system of claim 24wherein said cover is made of a polymeric material and wherein saidcover snap-engages said housing.
 26. The accessory mounting system ofclaim 13 wherein said another of said at least two accessories comprisesan antenna.
 27. The accessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein saidanother of said at least two accessories comprises a compass sensor. 28.The accessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein said one of said atleast two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor, whereinsaid housing includes an opening, and wherein said assembly includesbiasing which biases said rain sensor forwardly through said openinginto contact with the interior surface of the windshield of the vehicle.29. The accessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein said housingcomprises a metal housing.
 30. The accessory mounting system of claim 29wherein said metal housing comprises a die cast metal housing.
 31. Theaccessory mounting system of claim 13 wherein said housing comprises apolymeric housing.
 32. The accessory mounting system of claim 31 whereinsaid polymeric housing comprises a molded polymeric housing.
 33. Theaccessory mounting system of claim 31 wherein said molded polymerichousing comprises a housing molded from an engineering polymeric resin.34. The accessory mounting system of claim 33 wherein said engineeringpolymeric resin comprises a filled nylon.
 35. The accessory mountingsystem of claim 13 wherein said one of said at least two accessoriescomprises a forward-facing rain sensor having a cross section diameterof less than about 50 millimeters.
 36. The accessory mounting system ofclaim 35 wherein said rain sensor comprises a rain sensor module.
 37. Anaccessory mounting system suitable for mounting a plurality ofaccessories at a windshield portion within the interior cabin of avehicle, said system comprising: a housing; said housing adapted forreleasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interior surface ofthe upper portion of the windshield of the vehicle; at least twoaccessories housed in said housing; one of said at least two accessoriesselected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewing camera and aforwardly-viewing rain sensor; another of said at least two accessoriesselected from the group consisting of: a) a vehicle altitude sensor, b)a vehicle incline sensor, c) a headlamp sensor, d) a daylight sensor, e)a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, f) a geographicpositioning satellite (GPS) receiver, g) an antenna, h) a camera, i) amicrophone, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) a photosensor;said at least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshieldof the vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structure;and wherein said housing includes biasing that urges one of said atleast two accessories into contact with the interior surface of thewindshield.
 38. The accessory mounting system of claim 37 wherein saidat least one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield ofthe vehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structurecomprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor.
 39. The accessory mountingsystem of claim 38 wherein the another of said at least two accessoriescomprises a compass sensor.
 40. The accessory mounting system of claim37 wherein said housing includes a passageway for electrical wiring. 41.The accessory mounting system of claim 37 wherein said housing comprisesa pivot element.
 42. The accessory mounting system of claim 41 whereinsaid pivot element. includes a conduit therethrough for electricalwiring.
 43. The accessory mounting system of claim 41 wherein said pivotelement connects to an interior mirror.
 44. The accessory mountingsystem of claim 37 further including a removable cover which mates withsaid housing.
 45. The accessory mounting system of claim 37 wherein saidhousing includes a first opening, said first opening facing toward thewindshield when said housing is attached to the windshield, said atleast one of said two accessories viewing through the windshield of thevehicle when said housing is mounted to said receiving structurecomprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor, said biasing urging said rainsensor forwardly through said first opening into contact with theinterior surface of the windshield.
 46. The accessory mounting system ofclaim 37 wherein said housing comprises a cavity, said cavity includinga opening and where at least one of said at least two accessoriesincluded in said housing is accessible through said opening.
 47. Theinterior mirror assembly of claim 37 wherein said housing includes acavity and wherein an internal wall separates said cavity into first andsecond compartments, said one of said at least two accessories being inthe first of said compartments and the another of said at least twoaccessories being in the second of said compartments.
 48. The rearviewmirror assembly of claim 47 further including a removable cover whichmates with said housing.
 49. The accessory mounting system of claim 48wherein said removable cover is made of a polymeric material and whereinsaid cover snap-engages said housing.
 50. The accessory mounting systemof claim 37 wherein said another of said at least two accessoriescomprises a compass sensor.
 51. The accessory mounting system of claim37 wherein said one of said at least two accessories comprises aforward-facing rain sensor, wherein said housing includes an opening,and wherein said assembly includes biasing which biases said rain sensorforwardly through said opening into contact with the interior surface ofthe windshield of the vehicle.
 52. The accessory mounting system ofclaim 37 wherein said housing comprises a metal housing.
 53. Theaccessory mounting system of claim 37 wherein said one of said at leasttwo accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensor having a crosssection diameter of less than about 50 millimeters.
 54. The accessorymounting system of claim 53 wherein said rain sensor comprises a rainsensor module.
 55. An accessory mounting system suitable for mounting aplurality of accessories at a windshield portion within the interiorcabin of a vehicle, said system comprising: a housing; said housingadapted for releasable mounting to a receiving structure on the interiorsurface of the upper portion of the windshield of the vehicle; at leasttwo accessories housed in said housing; one of said at least twoaccessories selected from the group consisting of a forwardly-viewingcamera and a forwardly-viewing rain sensor; another of said at least twoaccessories selected from the group consisting of: a) a vehicle altitudesensor, b) a vehicle incline sensor, c) a headlamp sensor, d) a daylightsensor, e) a geographic positioning satellite (GPS) transmitter, f) ageographic positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, g) an antenna, h) acamera, i) a microphone, j) a compass sensor, k) a rain sensor and l) aphotosensor; said at least one of said two accessories viewing throughthe windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to saidreceiving structure; and wherein said housing further includes a coverwhich mates with said housing.
 56. The accessory mounting system ofclaim 55 wherein said at least one of said two accessories viewingthrough the windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted tosaid receiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor. 57.The accessory mounting system of claim 56 wherein the another of said atleast two accessories comprises a compass sensor.
 58. The accessorymounting system of claim 55 wherein said housing includes a passagewayfor electrical wiring.
 59. The accessory mounting system of claim 55wherein said housing comprises a pivot element.
 60. The accessorymounting system of claim 59 wherein said pivot element. includes aconduit therethrough for electrical wiring.
 61. The accessory mountingsystem of claim 59 wherein said pivot element connects to an interiormirror.
 62. The accessory mounting system of claim 55 wherein said covercomprises a removable cover.
 63. The accessory mounting system of claim55 wherein said housing includes a first opening, said first openingfacing toward the windshield when said housing is attached to thewindshield, said at least one of said two accessories viewing throughthe windshield of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to saidreceiving structure comprises a forwardly-viewing rain sensor, andwherein said housing includes biasing that urges said rain sensorforwardly through said first opening into contact with the interiorsurface of the windshield.
 64. The accessory mounting system of claim 55wherein said housing comprises a cavity, said cavity including a openingand where at least one of said at least two accessories included in saidhousing is accessible through said opening.
 65. The interior mirrorassembly of claim 55 wherein said housing includes a cavity and whereinan internal wall separates said cavity into first and secondcompartments, said one of said at least two accessories being in thefirst of said compartments and the another of said at least twoaccessories being in the second of said compartments.
 66. The rearviewmirror assembly of claim 65 including a biasing that urges one of saidat least two accessories into contact with the interior surface of thewindshield
 67. The accessory mounting system of claim 55 wherein saidcover is made of a polymeric material and wherein said coversnap-engages said housing.
 68. The accessory mounting system of claim 55wherein said another of said at least two accessories comprises acompass sensor.
 69. The accessory mounting system of claim 55 whereinsaid one of said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facingrain sensor, wherein said housing includes an opening, and wherein saidassembly includes biasing which biases said rain sensor forwardlythrough said opening into contact with the interior surface of thewindshield of the vehicle.
 70. The accessory mounting system of claim 55wherein said housing comprises a metal housing.
 71. The accessorymounting system of claim 55 wherein said housing comprises a polymerichousing.
 72. The accessory mounting system of claim 55 wherein said oneof said at least two accessories comprises a forward-facing rain sensorhaving a cross section diameter of less than about 50 millimeters, saidrain sensor comprising a rain sensor module.